Meeting other people and experiencing other cultures are some of the most rewarding parts of traveling.
Furthering those connections while abroad makes the travel experience all the more enriching.
But what about first-time visits and navigating cultural differences like mealtimes or formal greetings? Is etiquette in Spain all that different?
How do we go about furthering those connections if we aren’t sure how to start off on the right foot?
Learning social norms before you head to another country can help deepen your understanding of the nuances of how others operate in their part of the world.
In this piece, we’ll go over the top 9 rules of social etiquette in Spain!
With these handy tips, you’ll learn how to effectively communicate and build successful relationships with those around you.
1. Embrace Late Meals
Our top tip when it comes to learning social etiquette in Spain is to be patient and expect to eat late!
Whether it’s dining out or hosting, Spaniards enjoy a leisurely affair.
Meals last a bit longer in Spain – and with food being such an important part of Spanish culture, you’ll want to fully embrace the different mealtimes found in Spain.
Not familiar with regular Spanish lunches or dinners?
Meals are typically served a little bit later, with lunch (la comida) eaten somewhere between 2 PM to 4 PM and dinner (la cena) eaten somewhere between 9:00 PM to 11:30 PM.
As mentioned, meals are an important part of establishing relationships in Spain – they are a family and friends affair!
Be patient when it comes to acclimating to later and leisurely meals.
You’ll learn to love the relaxed nature of meals in Spain in no time at all.
2. Be a Gracious Guest
When going out to eat, tipping culture in Spain can be a little different.
If you had a delicious meal, a standard 5%-10% tip is acceptable, but a kind word is also appreciated.
Don’t forget to compliment the food and the service!
3. Avoid Certain Greetings
Language is a crucial component of connecting with others.
However, wanting to be friendly might turn unfriendly if using a greeting you’re not 100% sure of.
For example, a formal way of addressing someone could come off as offensive.
In order to avoid an uncomfortable run in, you can use a simple greeting like:
“Hola, perdona…” which is an informal “Hello, excuse me…” or “Hola, perdone…” which is a more formal version of “Hello, excuse me…”
In general, it is smart to communicate with the local dialect (if you can!) and use formal greetings when speaking with someone for the first time.
4. Avoid Assumptions
In line with using proper greetings, if you’re traveling to Spain for the first time, it’s impolite to address someone right off the bat with rapid fire English requests.
While English is a widely spoken language in Spain, be courteous and try out your Spanish!
Making an effort to speak Spanish while in Spain is a basic etiquette rule everyone should follow.
A few basics like “hello, how are you?” and “excuse me” can get you far.
5. Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Perhaps an uncommon (but fairly simple) social etiquette rule is using the escalator in a busy location.
Stand to the right if you want to let the escalator carry you up.
If you intend to walk, head up the left side.
The metro in Spain can get very busy, and a good social etiquette rule of thumb is to be aware of your surroundings when using the escalator.
6. Get Dressed
Depending on where you’re at in the world, athleisure has become an everyday staple of dress.
While athleisure may be common, even in Spain, Spaniards tend to opt for higher dress standards.
A good rule of thumb is to avoid the sweatpants before you head out the door!
7. Sample the Tapas
Meals in Spain are a family and friends affair – tapas included.
Tapas is a popular (and delicious!) Spanish custom that should be experienced by all.
If you’re going out for an afternoon or evening of bar-hopping, feel free to dive in to the many traditional dishes like patatas bravas, cured, ham, or croquettes.
8. Offering Food or Drink
When hosting someone at your home (or vice versa) it’s polite to offer visitors something to eat and drink!
You can also bring a gift or a bit of food with you when visiting a friend’s home.
Something like a bottle of wine or a few pastries can be a great idea.
This especially goes for snack time, or merienda, which is a middle ground somewhere between 4 to 6 PM.
9. Embrace “Siesta”
Many restaurants in Spain close down during the day for “siesta”.
This isn’t a time for napping, rather, it is a time where shops might close to observe an afternoon meal with family or friends.
While not every restaurant will observe this, it’s fairly common throughout Spain.
Embracing “siesta” is a great ‘etiquette in Spain‘ rule to keep in mind.
And why not embrace a leisurely afternoon?
You might just find yourself perfectly ready for a 10:00 PM dinner with friends at that one restaurant you’ve been dying to try out.
Is it common to tip at restaurants in Spain?
Yes, tipping is common in Spain but not mandatory. Tip amounts aren’t typically as high as other countries like the U.S., 5% or 10% on a bill is more standard!
What’s the standard dinner time in Spain?
Expect to eat a bit later in Spain: dinner time in Spain starts as early as 9:00 PM. A 5:00 PM dinner time will not be as common when traveling to Spain.
